Ducks News

Inaugural 'Freeway Face-Off' Series Peaks with Game 7 Friday

by
Staff Writer
/ Anaheim Ducks

NEW YORK (May 15, 2014) -- The first-ever Stanley Cup Playoff series between Southern California rivals the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings reaches its pinnacle with the excitement of Game 7 Friday at Honda Center in Anaheim (9 p.m., ET, NBCSN, TSN, RDS). The winner will advance to the Western Conference Final against the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.

The Ducks-Kings showdown will be the third Second Round series decided in a Game 7, joining both Eastern Conference matchups (New York Rangers defeated Pittsburgh, Montreal defeated Boston). Since 1988, there only have been two other years when three or more second-round series required a Game 7: 2001 and 2009. Friday's contest also will mark the sixth Game 7 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, one short of the single-year playoff record of seven (1994, 2011).

The Ducks, 2-3 all-time in Game 7s, will be the home team in such a contest for the second consecutive season and for the third time in franchise history. They dropped a 3-2 decision to the Detroit Red Wings in the 2013 Western Conference Quarterfinals.

The Kings, 5-4 all-time in Game 7s, will skate into Honda Center with a 5-0 record in elimination games in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In addition to winning Game 6 of this series Wednesday night, they posted a 5-1 road victory against San Jose in Game 7 of their First Round series to become the fourth team in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to overcome a 0-3 series deficit.

Ducks forward Teemu Selanne has appeared in a team-leading five Game 7s, while defenseman Robyn Regehr tops the Kings with six appearances.

Other Game 7 Notes* Home teams are 91-63 (.591) all-time in Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.* The team that scores first is 114-40 (.740).* Thirty-eight Game 7s have required overtime (38-of-154, 24.7%). Home and road teams both are 19-19 in those contests.CAREER GAME 7 PLAYER, GOALTENDER AND COACHING STATISTICSAnaheim Ducks (2-3)5/12/13, Western Conference QF vs. Detroit (DET 3 at ANA 2)5/14/09, Western Conference SF vs. Detroit (ANA 3 at DET 4)5/3/06, Western Conference QF vs. Calgary (ANA 3 at CGY 0)6/9/03, Stanley Cup Final vs. New Jersey (ANA 0 at N.J. 3)4/29/97, Western Conference QF vs. Phoenix (PHX 0 at ANA 3)